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International conventions

Shipping supply chains enable New Zealand to trade with the world. The strength of these supply chains is the multilateral regulatory system agreed at the International Maritime Organization. New Zealand is party to the key conventions that enables safe, clean, secure and sustainable maritime supply chains.

Maritime NZ’s role is to give effect to these conventions by implementing obligations into national law and ensuring they are followed in practice. This is done through several ways such as:

  • Regulating and certifying New Zealand vessels and seafarers
  • Carrying out inspections and audits
  • Monitoring compliance 
  • Taking enforcement action when convention standards are not met

Conventions are developed and adopted by the International Maritime Organization (the IMO) and the International Labour Organization (the ILO). New Zealand works with both the IMO and ILO to implement the 40 conventions we are party to, including the key conventions:

  • The International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
  • The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
  • Standards for Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) and its fishing variant (STCW-F), and 
  • The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). 

The International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

SOLAS sets minimum standards for the construction, equipment, and operation of ships of 500 gross tonnage or more engaged in international voyages.
The Convention requires signatory flag States, such as New Zealand, to ensure that ships flying their flag comply with these standards.

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)

MARPOL is the main international convention addressing the prevention of marine pollution from ships, whether that be from operational or accidental causes.

The six annexes to MARPOL cover pollution from oil, noxious bulk liquids, harmful packaged substances, sewage, garbage and air emissions.

Standards for Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW)

STCW sets the minimum standards of competence for seafarers. In 1995 an equivalent convention for seafarers on fishing vessels (STCW-F) was also adopted by New Zealand. 

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC)

New Zealand is a signatory to the MLC and works closely with the ILO to ensure these standards are upheld. New Zealand implements the MLC through domestic legislation and regulatory oversight, which covers areas such as:

  • conditions of employment (eg, payment of wages, hours of work and rest, minimum age, qualifications, employment agreements)
  • accommodation (including food and catering)
  • crewing levels
  • onboard recreational facilities
  • onboard medical care
  • accident prevention
  • onboard complaints procedures.

Under the MLC, New Zealand has the jurisdiction to:

  • inspect foreign-flagged ships to check for compliance with the standards set by the MLC
  • inspect and certify its own ships, which travel internationally, to demonstrate compliance with the MLC.

The MLC does not apply to fishing vessels as the New Zealand government has a range of measures in place regarding vessel safety and the fair treatment of crews on fishing vessels.